Free Tokus Numas by D.W. Rigsby

intelligence state that the king left the castle and had not returned. It did concern him somewhat, for today was a challenging time for them all. Already he’d received word that the Father had attacked King Offing, and even Castle Dugual was on alert from the extra guards who seemed to be posted throughout the interior. The other indicators were the extra guards that had come out to escort him inside, the scanning at the door took that longer in his mind, and King Amerstall not being here, raised different questions.
    “Oh, stop it. You are a charmer, aren’t you? If only I were younger,” she said and winked at him.
    Vetus Sepher smiled, and his eyes softened. In a dream, charming lady , he thought.
    “He’s been gone for several weeks, visiting King Sirhe about new contracts,” she said. “And whatever else kings do, I suppose.”
    As a young prince, King Amerstall had a reputation for being wild, but he had become much more subdued and somber since he had taken the throne from his father. Once a rumor floated about how King Amerstall, in his early years as king, had taken too much drink on a hunt and had gotten down off his horse and taken out his rifle to shoot a deerling. He’d aimed his rifle and fired it, and the deerling ran off and King Amerstall gave chase. His men were right behind him on horseback, keeping up. The deerling was clearly out of sight, probably gone by now, but King Amerstall decided he could catch it. His men tried to get him back onto his horse, but he would not have it. The brush was too thick, so he ordered them to stay while he ventured into the forest on his own. He stepped high, up and over the tall grass, and peeled back the branches of the thick shrubbery, making a racket while forcing his way through. His men muffled their chuckles as their king crashed through the forest, yelling, “Here, little deerling, come here.” There was gunshot, and everyone fell silent, looking for the king. Then his voice came over the wind, “No, that wasn’t a deerling.”
    The men all smiled to one another. They had gotten closer to the shrubs, following King Amerstall. The guard in back of the line brought the king’s horse. Then there was another shot. The king’s horse reared up and snapped back its head, pulling the guard off his own horse.
    “I got him,” King Amerstall’s voice rang out, and he came through the brush, fighting, pushing, and cursing as he finally burst through and stood facing his men.
    The guard got up, holding onto the reins of King Amerstall’s horse.
    “That’s not a deerling either,” King Amerstall said and hiccupped. Blood ran down the backside of the king’s horse. He stared at it and then faced his guard. “Who did that?” King Amerstall swayed.
    The guard reached over and took the rifle gently. “You did, sire.” It hadn’t killed the poor beast, and King Amerstall had it taken home to care for it.
    He commanded his kingdom well. The people loved him for the protection he provided, the lands for them to work, the food in their bellies, and for being in the wealthiest kingdom of the entire realm. The Free City had prospered under Dugual, an idea brought forth by the house of Dugual, a city for those who wanted to live independently and create what they wanted, including the most advanced technology the realm had seen. Dugual also contracted all the deals with the Free City, taking a portion for itself, making it wealthier than all the other kingdoms combined.
    Vetus Sepher and his escort party came to the door of the gardens, and Lyn rapped on the door. The thick wooden door creaked opened, and a burst of moisture infused with fragrance filtered out.

All kingdoms across the entire realm of Spearca—from the western shore to the eastern shore, from the southern shore to the northern shore, those on the White Sea upon the White Sea, and any other place—will follow the Treaty de Sanctus Marcus, for war will come, but it must not come lightly, and